Need help! Setting up Amazon/Tetra tank!

This is a discussion on Need help! Setting up Amazon/Tetra tank! within the Characins forums, part of the Freshwater and Tropical Fish category; -->
I am going to try to find some gravel I can use for the amazon tank. I calculated that for 4&quot; of gravel (I ...

I am going to try to find some gravel I can use for the amazon tank. I calculated that for 4" of gravel (I want 5-6") would cost over $160. I am really hopeing that I have a landscapeing that will carry the dark gravel, preferably relatively fine and non-calcareous. Is there something that would be toxic in the gravel other than altering the pH? I will test pH if I buy it from any place that doesn't sell specifically for aquariums, but I was just wondering if there was any other way a type of gravel could be dangerous, or if there is anything I need to ask the manager about the gravel.

I would like to be able to buy gravel in bulk. Hopefully it would be significantly less than $160. Are there any aquarium bulk supply chains? There really aren't alot of big aquarium stores around here (No chains within an hours drive of here). But I'd be willing to pay a little bit more for better quality (pay abit more at a bulk store, than pay less at a landscape store) and the comfort of knowing 100% that the gravel I have is 100% safe for fish.

Ok, yesterday I went to a Petco for the first time. Personally, I like Petsmart more, but this Petco seemed to be better stocked than the Petsmarts I have been to. Anyway, I finally found some Amazon Sword, but it was dry in a container. I got 1 8" amazon sword and 3 4" amazon sword. I think it is stored in some kind of gel. I don't know what the shelf life is. Here is my question; would it be better for me to leave the plants in the package with the gel (as the Amazon doesn't have water), or place them in the QT with all my other non-amazon plants? I have never bought plants 'dry' before, so if there is anything else I need to know about that, please let me know.

I still can't find any decorative aquatic wood. Maybe I can find something on eBay? Would there be any special way that it should be shipped, or will it come wrapped up in an envolope like my filter from shri-lanka? And should I expect expensive shipping, and rule out any product that doesn't have expensive shipping?

Also, afew weeks ago I started a thread about one of my tetra haveing a 'cut'...they all have 'cuts' right in the same part of their head. I hope it is just a natural mark, and that I was just underobservant when I got them. I still have 1 that is in the small HT. He hasn't eaten much since I added him with that fungus stuff. Poor guy.

Gravel that is just gravel should not have any other substances in it. But it can be calcareous (made from rock like limestone) that would raise hardness and pH. The acid test works to tell this, a couple drops of an acid like the Regent #2 from the nitrate test kit works; if it fizzes, it is calcareous. What I do when I buy bulk gravel from landscape quarry places is to get just a pail of it, put some in a small tank and half fill with water. Check the pH the same day. Then check it a few days later, then another few days after that. If after 3-4 weeks the pH has not gone up (it will probably stay the same, not likely to lower as it does in an aquarium with fish) the gravel is not calcareous.

On the plants, I've never seen what you describe. I would get them in a tank as soon as you can.

Hello. I know it has been over a month since I replied to this thread, but that is just because I haven't made any progress. My fish are still sitting in the QT. Well, most of the fish. I lost a Lemon Tetra due to some kind of terrible fungus that grew from the inside out. Literally. I also lost an albino corydoras that looked a bit odd afew days after I brought it home. It was almost transparent and it didn't look like the nice, good coloration of my other 2 albinos.

I have a stocking question, though. Since albino C. are just the albino version of the Bronze C., would bronze cories and albinos live like they were the same species, or can they tell the color difference? In other words, would I need to get another Albino C. so I would have 3 Albinos, or could I just get some Bronze C. as if they were the same. Is that understandable?

Anyway, I have been to afew landscaping places and nobody seems to have black gravel.. There are still afew local places I haven't checked yet. Haven't had alot of time for going around town searching for gravel, but I will try to make some time for it soon.

Anyway, I still intend to start the 55g amazon tank and have everything I need to get started except that gravel.

Hello. I know it has been over a month since I replied to this thread, but that is just because I haven't made any progress. My fish are still sitting in the QT. Well, most of the fish. I lost a Lemon Tetra due to some kind of terrible fungus that grew from the inside out. Literally. I also lost an albino corydoras that looked a bit odd afew days after I brought it home. It was almost transparent and it didn't look like the nice, good coloration of my other 2 albinos.

I have a stocking question, though. Since albino C. are just the albino version of the Bronze C., would bronze cories and albinos live like they were the same species, or can they tell the color difference? In other words, would I need to get another Albino C. so I would have 3 Albinos, or could I just get some Bronze C. as if they were the same. Is that understandable?

Anyway, I have been to afew landscaping places and nobody seems to have black gravel.. There are still afew local places I haven't checked yet. Haven't had alot of time for going around town searching for gravel, but I will try to make some time for it soon.

Anyway, I still intend to start the 55g amazon tank and have everything I need to get started except that gravel.

The corys will mix fine.

Can you afford a plant substrate like Flourite? It comes in black that is fine gravel size (also black sand which I would not recommend); I'm actually setting up (or re-setting) my flooded Amazon forest tank this week using this Flourite black. Nice substrate. You can order it online, probably cheaper (it was for me).

Ok, well, I still haven't found the substrate of my dreams, but I am still looking.

I am wondering if it is Ok if I added 1 albino bristle nose pleco to the stocking list. From all I have seen price-wise, they are usually less than $13. They are an amazonian species, and I would love to have a pleco!

Ok, well, I still haven't found the substrate of my dreams, but I am still looking.

I am wondering if it is Ok if I added 1 albino bristle nose pleco to the stocking list. From all I have seen price-wise, they are usually less than $13. They are an amazonian species, and I would love to have a pleco!

Opinions?

When your 55 gallon is ready, the bristlenose could be considered. Would not buy any fishes to add to your crowded quarantine tank.
Bristlenose will fair much better in established tank with biofilm to graze on along with possibly algae and algae based foods and occasional shrimp,bloodworms.

When your 55 gallon is ready, the bristlenose could be considered. Would not buy any fishes to add to your crowded quarantine tank.
Bristlenose will fair much better in established tank with biofilm to graze on along with possibly algae and algae based foods and occasional shrimp,bloodworms.

Ok guys. I am not adding any more fish to my QT. I may have had some small nitrate problems, but the diesase I am dealing with came from the LFS. I am still a wise fish keeper, even though I have to say that thread has kind of ruined my reputation of being so (not to say that I haven't learned alot from, because I do appreciate it alot). But thanks for making sure I wasn't going to stick any more fish in there. It is an unfortunate story how I ended up with 2 schools in there, and I do not plan to do it again in the future.

I was just asking if it would work in the tank. I will certainly wait for the 55g tank to be establisted for awhile. If I do get a Bristlenose/Albino Bristlenose, it will be one of the last fish I add.

I have been searching since December 2010 for affordable black gravel. I can't find any, despite my efforts. I think I may have to accept defeat as far as black gravel goes.

Walmart has moderately sized brown gravel for $13 for 25lbs. I think I might get me 2 bags of that, throw some water in the tank, start that special-ordered filter I have been waiting since Febuary to start, and add my Amazon Sword. Too bad Amazon Sword is my only Amazon plant I have right now.

Anyway, should I try that? Gravel from walmart should interfere with water chemistry, should it? I am anxious to get started. Now or probably never.

I have been searching since December 2010 for affordable black gravel. I can't find any, despite my efforts. I think I may have to accept defeat as far as black gravel goes.

Walmart has moderately sized brown gravel for $13 for 25lbs. I think I might get me 2 bags of that, throw some water in the tank, start that special-ordered filter I have been waiting since Febuary to start, and add my Amazon Sword. Too bad Amazon Sword is my only Amazon plant I have right now.

Anyway, should I try that? Gravel from walmart should interfere with water chemistry, should it? I am anxious to get started. Now or probably never.

Opinions?

My petco and petsmart both have 25lbs of gravel for about $13. They both have plain black. It would be about the size of what I would call pea gravel. Which I believe was recommended. What I don't understand is if it would be safe for Cory's. The cory section seems to indicate that they do best with sand and that rough gravel could harm their feelers (sorry forgot the official term).

I bought the Eco complete and it was on sale at Pet-co and had free shipping. You might want to check out the pet-smart and pet-co websites, they often have free shipping which can save gas money.

The "plain" gravel I got from Pet-Smart (bought before the eco) did not effect my water chemistry. I have it in a tank running solo waiting for plants. It's been 4 weeks with nothing but a filter and I don't see a change in my chemistry.

edit: I just checked the petco website and it is $16 regular price, on sale for $12.79. So I was a bit off on price.